Adewebshow to start rice farming in Kenya- Rice is a staple food in almost every country, including Kenya. It is prepared for everyday use at home as well as on special occasions.
To start rice farming in Kenya, the process involves the selection of farmland, farmland preparation, purchase of rice specie, seed planting, weeding, pest control, fertilizer application, flooding, and harvesting.
With the outlined step above, you now have an overview of the steps involved in rice farming. So, we will continue our discussion extensively below to provide you with more information regarding rice farming in Kenya.
[Tips & Tricks] How To Start Rice Farming In Kenya
Kenya is not popular for rice farming; however, it is possible to farm rice in the country as long as you follow the guidelines discussed below from beginning to end.
Read Also: How To Start Tomatoes Farming Kenya [Beginners Guide]
Step 1: Selection of Farm Land
Examine the soil and weather conditions. Check the soil in the area to be sure it has a little acidic clay. Check the pH of the soil because it is important for getting a high yield and can cause nutrient loss due to organic matter.
Read Also: [Beginners Guide] How To Farm Cucumber In Kenya
Choose a location that receives adequate sunlight, as rice grows best in areas with ample sunlight and relatively higher temperatures. In addition, the land area you select should be large enough to support plant and flower growth for 3 to 6 months.
Step 2: Farmland Preparation
You should get to work on the fields and try to start all of the preparations for the upcoming rainy season. First, you must remove the weeds so that the main crop can receive all of the nutrients from the soil.
Read Also: [Beginners Guide PDF] How To Grow Beans In Kenya
After that, the field is tilled manually or mechanically to a specific inch. Then, to improve soil fertility, apply natural manure to the land. Finally, before sowing the seedlings, cover the land with water for about 2 – 2.5 cm.
Read Also: [Beginners Guide] How To Grow Carrots In Kenya
Step 3: Purchase of Rice Specie
Rice seeds can be purchased at any nursery or farmers’ supply market. Choose high-quality seeds. Rice seed varieties are available for a variety of ecologies, including lowland, upland, deep water, mangrove swamp, and others.
Step 4: Seed Planting
Typically, rice seedlings are grown in a nursery before being transplanted to the fields after forty days. Another method of planting is to directly sow the seeds in the fields. However, transplanting produces significantly higher yields than direct sowing.
Read Also: [Beginners Guide Pdf] How To Grow Onions In Kenya
So, depending on the farming system you use, you should choose the best planting method.
Step 5: Weeding and Pest control
Weeds tend to grow alongside your rice plant for several months. That is why you should be on the lookout to move any weeds to make room for new growth.
You can remove weeds manually or use chemicals that are not harmful to the rice plant. Likewise, some pests would invade the farm to destroy all edible rice plants. You can make use of herbicides and fungicides as soon as you notice any pests.
Read Also: [Beginners Guide] How To Grow Pepper In Kenya
Step 6: Fertilizer Application
Fertilizer application is important in rice farming. Also, you can mulch the soil, just enough to cover the rice seeds. This will naturally push the seeds into the soil.
Step 7: Flooding
The traditional flooding recommendation is at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) of water. However, flooding the farm is best up to you. The most important thing is to adequately water your farm to avoid water shortage.
Step 8: Harvesting
Harvest is best done during the dry season. To harvest the rice crop, you can use the traditional curved knife. You can also harvest your crops using machines. Once this process is complete, the rice grains must be separated from the husk by threshing, milling, and winnowing.
How Long Does It Take To Grow Rice In Kenya?
Rice plants grow to maturity in four to five months in Kenya.
How Do I Start A Rice Farm?
To start a rice farm, you don’t just jump into the venture without proper research and planning. Then you have to source funding if you don’t have it either through grants, loans, or from friends and family.
Once you secure funding, you have to purchase the land and prepare the land, purchase rice seedlings from farmers or agro-stores, plant your seeds, care for the rice farm, and wait for the harvest.
Is Rice Farming Profitable In Kenya?
Rice farming is a profitable venture around the world including in countries like Kenya where rice farming is below per. Entrepreneurs and young farmers are advised to go into rice farming to boost rice production in the country and at the same time meet the rising demand for staple food as a means to make money.
How Much Rice Do You Get From 1 Acre Of Land?
You will get 7,619 pounds of rice crops per acre of land.
What Is The Price Of Rice In Kenya?
The price of rice in Kenya differs between sellers and producers. The price of rice in Kenya is KES 33.5 per kg.
Where Rice Is Planted In Kenya?
Not every region in Kenya is suitable for rice farming. The major areas where rice is planted in Kenya are in Central (Mwea), Western (Bunyala), Coast (Tana delta, Msambweni), and Nyanza provinces (Ahero, West Kano, Migori and Kuria).
How Many Months Rice Can Be Harvested?
If you plant your rice in due season, you will harvest your rice crops between 3 to 4 months.
What Is The Secret To Successful Rice Farming?
The secret to successful rice farming is:
- Adequate watering or flooding using an irrigation system
- Exposure to adequate sunlight for 7 hours daily
- Planted in heavy clay or silt loamy soil that can retain water and drain water when needed.
Which Fertilizer Is Best For Rice?
Fertilizers rich in ammonium sulfate are considered to be the best for rice.
What Crop Is Easiest To Grow?
Several crops can be easily grown. Such crops are lettuce, peas, Radishes, Turnips, Beans, Sweet Potatoes, maize, and millets.
How Is Rice Grown Step By Step?
You can start growing rice from scratch to an advanced level by following the steps outlined below.
Step 1: Quality seed selection
Step 2 – Farmland acquisition
Step 3 – Farmland preparation
Step 4 – Seed planting
Step 5 – Flooding
Step 6 – Rice farm management
Step 7 – Harvest
How Do You Grow Rice In A Pond?
Growing rice in a pond is the same as discussed in this material. The only difference is to fill the pond with clay or silt loamy soil. Then you transfer rice plants from the nursery to the soil-filled pond.
What Climate Is Best For Rice Farming?
The best and ideal climate for rice farming is a hot and humid climate.
Does Rice Need Lots Of Water To Grow?
Rice needs a lot of water to grow especially if it’s lowland rice that you planted on your farm. For upland rice, adequate water is needed but not overflooding.
How Much Does A Rice Farm Cost?
The cost to buy a rice farm cost you about KSH142000 and above. Hiring farmland is cheaper than buying. However, buying your farmland is better than hiring because you don’t have a conflict with anybody and you can farm as often as you want.
How Much Is A 50kg Bag Of Rice In Kenya?
The 50kg rice price in Kenya cost an average of KSH 6,500.
Which Rice Is Best In Kenya?
The best rice in Kenya is CIL, Dawaat blue package, sunrise with the orange package, Pearl Basmati, Pure Mwea Pishori rice, and Falcon Indian basmati.
How Much Is Rice 25kg In Kenya?
The price of 25kg of rice in Kenya is Ksh 2,200 per bag.
What Rice Is Grown In Kenya?
There are several varieties of rice grown in Kenya including Basmati 217, Sindano, ITA310, Basmati 370, and BW196.
Who Introduced Rice In Kenya?
Asia introduced rice to Kenya in the year 1907. Presently, rice is the most important cereal crop in the country.
How Much Rice Does Kenya Import?
Kenya is a major importer of rice. The country has continued to import 30,000 to 50,000 tonnes of rice per year over the years.
How Long Does Rice Take To Grow?
Rice is a fast-growing crop and it takes 3 to 4 months after transplanting for rice to grow.
How Long Does It Take For Rice To Be Harvested?
Rice planted in the late season can be harvested between 130 and 136 days after planting. It takes 113 and 125 days for medium-maturing varieties to be harvested, and 110 days for early-maturing varieties to be harvested.
How Much Rice Do You Get From One Plant?
One rice plant can yield between 70 and 100 grains.
How Long Does Wheat Take To Grow In Kenya?
In Kenya, it takes about four months for wheat to grow into maturity. However, maturity differs between varieties.
Rice Farming In Mwea, Kenya
Mwea Irrigation Scheme currently accounts for 80% of the country’s rice production. Since the scheme began, two rice crops are grown annually, one during the short rains between August and December, and one during the long rains between January and June.
Rice Cultivation Process Step by Step
The step-by-step process for rice cultivation includes:
Step 1 – Purchase of Land
Step 2 – Land preparation
Step 3 – Purchase Rice Seeds
Step 4 – Rice seedling transplanting
Step 5 – Field maintenance
Step 6 – Harvesting
Rice Production in Kenya 2030
As of the year 2020, Kenya’s rice production was 180,000 metric tonnes. There has been a projection of rice production increasing by 10% to 520,000 MT by the year 2030.
Modern Rice Farming Techniques PDF
Modern rice farming techniques PDF contains all the necessary information you need to know about rice farming including the modern techniques that are applied in modern rice farming.
There is a lot of modern rice farming technique PDF online that you can check out for your consumption. Here is a Pdf Guide on Rice farming in Kenya.
Rice Production in Kenya PDF
Here is a Pdf Guide on Rice farming in Kenya. Rice production is a profitable business that anyone with the right mindset can venture into. However, before you begin rice production in Kenya, read this rice production in Kenya PDF to learn all the techniques of rice production that will help you excel.
Rice Farming Business Plan PDF Free Download
Rice farming business plan PDF free download contains all the necessary information that will help improve your farming business. All you need do is to surf the internet and download the free rice farming business plan that best suit you.
Rice Production Handbook PDF
If you are looking for a rice production handbook PDF, don’t look farther than the web where you will have access to tons of rice production materials that will come in handy for you.
Where Is Rice Grown In Kenya
In Kenya, rice is mainly grown by small-scale farmers in Central (Mwea), Western (Bunyala), Coast (Tana delta, Msambweni), and Nyanza provinces (Ahero, West Kano, Migori, and Kuria).
Conclusion
We have come to the end of our discourse on how to start rice farming in Kenya. Rice farming in Kenya is a green agribusiness with only a few farmers enjoying the benefits. You can also venture into rice farming to enjoy the benefits it offers.
